Has anyone attempted to build a bottle wall? We have a tiny front garden in our Victorian terrace. It has a over-large privet hedge at the moment, which is blocking light and taking up space from the herbs my girlfriend wants to grow there. I thought a low bottle wall would be just the thing. Probably about 3 foot high, and two sides, about 2 metres each. Any tips/links? Anyone tried it before?

First collect your bottles ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottle_wallthe Heineken WOBO sounds a great idea.... in fact good design of glass packaging should include a second-use after the original contents are consumed (who else uses Nutella jars as wine-glasses/whisky tumblers?)

I tried collecting the Simpson range of glasses but gave up in the end, Nuttella is just too expensive these days but we are using the glasses that our scented candles came in (from IKEA) as tumblers :D

Yeah, I was thinking of using jam jars, as they are the right width, and there are always loads of them kicking around. I was also thinking of putting the top row in upright and growing plants out of them. Likewise, wall plants out of the ones in the side.

I was hoping someone would be able to help me with lime morter mixes and the like - also, foundations, rebars etc.

None that I know of. There is one in Fife and one in Brighton but neither are homes, both are public spaces. I know that the Brighton lot where applying for planning permission for a cluster of earthships, not sure what has happened to that. and I there was one that I know at least started to be built in Ireland, but they have not updated their site for well over a year.

I wonder how you design an earthship when you can have 6 weeks of solid rain and no sign of the sun. Natural energy density can be pretty low here, and novel building materials will be tested by continuous rain.